2003 Ford F-150 Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2003 Ford F-150 equipped with Firestone Tires, Tire Line: Firestone, Tire Size: 265/70/R17, DOT Number: (N/A). The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, there was a burning rubber odor coming from the outside of the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle to inspect the tires and became aware that the tread of the tires was loose. Neither the dealer nor an independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 277,144.

NHTSA ID

11754716

Incident

Aug 3, 2026

Mileage

277,144 mi

UNKNOWN - however there were NO warning lights or any other indication of malfunction or to service the truck. I took the truck to an independent service center & they did a full inspection & I did receive an estimate for repairs.

NHTSA ID

11742957

Incident

Sep 15, 2025

My husband was shoveling snow off of our vehicles and seen smoke coming from under the hood of his truck. When he opened the hood the truck was on fire on the right side. The truck was turned off when this happened. He threw snow on top of it to put the fire out and unplugged the battery to prevent further fire damage.

NHTSA ID

11713867

Incident

Jan 25, 2026

Well the passenger side in front seat seat belt needs replaced due to getting stuck after front airbags in dash and steering wheel after deployment from barley tapping a vehicle in front of the truck

NHTSA ID

11687019

Incident

Aug 28, 2025

The engine continues to shoot out the spark plugs. This is continued to happen with different cylinders. I’ve had it at the mechanic most of the time I’ve owned it.

NHTSA ID

11678792

Incident

Jun 9, 2025

The contact owns a 2003 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel felt very loose and was difficult to turn. The vehicle was restarted. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 175,000.

NHTSA ID

11648725

Incident

Mar 17, 2025

Mileage

175,000 mi

The contact owns a 2003 Ford F-150. The contact stated that upon attempting to enter the vehicle, the contact became aware that the driver’s and passenger’s side rear doors failed to open after several attempts. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11596528

Incident

Jan 15, 2016

I purchased this F150 in November, 2023. The only code shown was a lean code, P0171. I removed the bed first to begin my inspection. Upon removing the original fuel tank, I discovered a gash in the top of the tank,about 1/8" wide by 3" long. It should have set a code like a missing gas cap would, but there was none. The gash appeared to be several years old due to the rust pitting. I believe the gash was a result of the cross member rubbing against the tank. The previous owner did not mention the defect. Fuel would have spilled out if the tank was completely filled. I did not find any service alerts for this though they may exist. The truck currently has 225k miles.

NHTSA ID

11566652

Incident

Jan 20, 2024

Our truck has been great but we have a major problem. It is leaking water when it rains. Getting front floor carpet wet and now it is getting the fuse box wet and causing electrical systems to not work. Like today the odometer won't light up. Also dripping from top of windshield. We are having the windshield and seal replaced on Thursday but the glass company says they can't guarantee m of seal will stop the Problem. He said the drain system was factory installed backwards and it's not draining properly.

NHTSA ID

11550463

Incident

Oct 17, 2023

The contact owns a 2003 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and turned off for approximately an hour, they were suddenly informed that their vehicle had caught fire. When the contact arrived at the vehicle the fire department had already arrived and extinguished the fire. There was a police report was filed that stated that the fire was caused by wiring in the engine compartment. There were no injuries or medical assistance. There was damage to a nearby vehicle, fence, tree, and surrounding grounds. The vehicle had been towed and deemed totaled. The contact had later learned of NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V017000 (Vehicle Speed Control) however the vehicle had never been repaired for the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 250,000.

NHTSA ID

11544493

Incident

Sep 10, 2023

Mileage

250,000 mi

Ford placed a decal on the rear differential that wraps all the way around the axle. This decal holds water and has caused any area touching the decal to rust excessively. Ford has told me that this will cause they rear differential fail. When this happens it will likely be when I'm driving with my wife and two young kids. The only way to know that this issue exists is to either get under the truck and remove the decal which causes and also covers the damage, or to have the axle give out while driving. This was recently discovered while working on the vehicle. I don't currently have pictures as the vehicle is in for other repairs, but I can get pictures once I get the vehicle back.

NHTSA ID

11523634

Incident

May 7, 2023

Transmission

NHTSA ID

11519494

Incident

Apr 3, 2023

On the day of Monday February 20 2023 I was in my front driveway preforming some maintenance on my 2003 Ford F-150 Xlt SuperCrew truck a gear shift cable and a heater core replacement. Once I finished the repairs I ran my truck for a few minutes then shut it off and was headed inside when I noticed a flickering light coming from the passenger side of the vehicle I walked to the truck and opened the door and I saw small flames dripping down coming from the ( glove box area ) I then grabbed the water hose and put it out . Once the small fire was out I proceeded to go in the house when I noticed black smoke coming ( from the engine bay from the vents in front of the windshield) the smoke got thicker as I sprayed it with water I then called to my spouse to call the local Fire Department. The vehicle was a total loss nothing was left interior wise no ( steering wheel,no console,no dashboard or anything.

NHTSA ID

11510283

Incident

Feb 20, 2023

On 11/27/2022 at or around 4:30 P.M. my 2003 Ford F-150 burned almost completely, without any mechanical failures or warnings, thirty full minutes after being parked and then after only having been run for three to four miles. The fire department ended up putting it out before it was fully consumed.

NHTSA ID

11496499

Incident

Nov 27, 2022

The contact owns a 2003 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V385000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11491023

Incident

Jul 29, 2011

FRONT DRIVER SEAT MOVES ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING OR TOUCHING CONTROLS AND NO PROBLEM WITH FUSES ETC. WHEN TRYING TO USE CONTROLS THEY DO NOT ALWAYS WORK UNTIL YOUR DRIVING OR IN DRIVE WITH FOOT ON BRAKES.

NHTSA ID

11404479

Incident

Aug 1, 2019

Mileage

36,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT'S BOYFRIEND OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE IGNITION COILS AND ALL SPARK PLUGS WOULD BLOW OUT INSIDE OF THE ENGINE WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAS HAD THE IGNITION COILS AND SPARKS PLUGS REPLACED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS ALL BY INDEPENDENT MECHANICS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT ALSO CALLED THREE SEPARATE DEALERS BUT WAS UNABLE TO REACH A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. SHE WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

NHTSA ID

11388162

Incident

Oct 1, 2020

Mileage

110,000 mi

FUEL TANK SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, RESULTING IN FUEL SPILL.

NHTSA ID

11383619

Incident

Dec 15, 2020

Mileage

258,000 mi

ON NOVEMBER 01,2020 I WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE ROLLOVER IN MY FORD F150 2003 WHICH THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON AND SEATBELT LOCKED I WAS ENTERTAINING INTERSECTION AND ALMOST THROUGH IT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN THE STOP LIGHT CAUSING ME TO ROLLOVER ONE IN HALF TIMES. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEAT ALMOST DETACHED FROM CAB.

NHTSA ID

11372877

Incident

Nov 1, 2020

Mileage

145,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEAR AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT THE GEAR FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL AND BACK INTO PARK THEN NEUTRAL AGAIN FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION AND TURN ON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,341.

NHTSA ID

11365770

Incident

Aug 25, 2020

Mileage

86,341 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE FROM DRIVING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO PUT OUT THE FIRE AND FILED A POLICE REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED TOTALED. THE CONTACT HAD CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP (SAM PACK'S FIVE STAR FORD ADDRESS: 1635 S INTERSTATE 35E, CARROLLTON, TX 75006 PHONE: (972) 446-5027) WHO INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THEIR VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000.

NHTSA ID

11342285

Incident

Jul 27, 2020

Mileage

240,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT HAD BEEN ILLUMINATED SINCE THE DAY OF PURCHASE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE CAR PORT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED AS WELL AS DAMAGED THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT CONTACTED A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THEM OF A RECALL FOR THE YEAR/MAKE/MODEL, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06E056000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT STATED THE VIN HAD NOT SHOWN TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 203,000. *BF *DL

NHTSA ID

11327230

Incident

Apr 3, 2020

Mileage

203,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND A REPAIR APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED WITH THE LOCAL DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS NOT INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE DEFECTIVE PART COULD HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTED FROM THE VEHICLE TO AVOID A FIRE WHICH WAS STATED IN THE RECALL REMEDY. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER HIS GIRLFRIEND PARKED THE VEHICLE, ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF HOURS LATER THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO OTHER VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED BY THE FIRE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT AND CANCELED A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,000.

NHTSA ID

11318269

Incident

Mar 15, 2020

Mileage

196,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD F150. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE SLID ON BLACK ICE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH THE GUARD RAIL SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SUFFERED WHIPLASH AND BRUISED MUSCLES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT HOWEVER, THE HE DRIVE SLOWLY AS THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED 2 DAYS LATER BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE AIR BAGS FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,807.

NHTSA ID

11308483

Incident

Jan 22, 2020

Mileage

116,807 mi

NOTHING HAS REALLY HAPPENED BUT BOTH ANTI LOCK BRAKE WIRES KEEP RUBBING ON THE RIMS AND WHERING THROUGH I HAVE REPLACED BOTH SIDES TWICE

NHTSA ID

11282572

Incident

Oct 1, 2018

Mileage

16,800 mi